We
are supposedly fighting a “war on terror”. What exactly is 'Terrorism'?
Terrorism is defined by the FBI as follows: “…the unlawful use of
force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce
a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in
furtherance of political or social objectives.”[1]
This definition should apply to every entity, including the United
States government in their relationship with their own citizens. The
fear Americans felt after 9/11 easily intimidated and coerced us into
accepting the Patriot Act 1 and 11. How does our acceptance of that
freedom stealing act assist Osama bin Laden and his followers?

Since
9/11 we have been engaged in a war against the “axis of evil” which
will never end as terror has no boundaries or limitations. There was
no formal congressional declaration of war and we are not fighting
an isolated country. Therefore, we will never sign a peace treaty.
An open-ended war strongly suggests that the imperial position of
commander-in-chief is also a constant with grave implications against
the resources and freedoms of every American.

While
the United States has declared war on terrorism, we have hypocritically
terrorized others through the years. Our definition of terrorism focuses
on the acts that are perpetrated against us – our embassies, ships,
etc. However, when we behave in a like manner – we call it customary
procedures to protect America’s interests.

“If
they do it, its terrorism, if we do it, it's fighting for freedom.”
- Anthony Quainton, U.S. Ambassador to Nicaragua, 1984: Source: Off
the record response of the Ambassador to a group of concerned U.S.
citizens when asked to explain the difference between U.S. government
actions in Nicaragua and the violence it condemns as terrorism elsewhere
in the world.

Currently,
as far as we know, our troops are engaged in combat in Afghanistan
and Iraq. Our government will continue to hijack America’s economy
by borrowing high interest money in order to wage our interventionist,
preemptive war and dot foreign landscapes with military bases. The
Iraqi War may ultimately cost as much as $2 trillion in addition to
disability payments to a current 16,000 broken and wounded soldiers
whose lives will never be the same.[2]
The finances of war notwithstanding, more significant are the thousands
of lives that have been lost on both sides. Some sources state that
100,000 Iraqis have perished.[3]
Our government claims that it is only 30,000, more or less. Where
is America’s outrage at this killing?

“It
is in the nature of imperialism that citizens of the imperial power
are always among the last to know--or care--about circumstances in
the colonies.” Bertrand Russell.[4]
While Americans become outraged by media allegations of terrorists
within our country preparing to use “dirty bombs” we have unquestioningly
and thoughtlessly invaded and completely decimated the infrastructure
of foreign countries while annihilating their citizens with nuclear
weapons.[5]
Nuclear bombs have the capability of shredding the flesh right off
of a person’s bones – reminiscent of Felipe David, a victim in the
basement of the North Tower.[6]

Apparently
there are some American citizens who feel they never have to apologize
for our activities. On 2 Aug 1988 the father of our imperial president,
George H. W. Bush allegedly said “I will never apologize for the United
States, ever. I don’t care what the facts are.” “That we are to stand
by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile,
but is morally treasonable to the American Public.” - Theodore Roosevelt
We have used atomic, nuclear, biological and chemical weapons against
others. “U.S.

Leaders
commit war crimes as a matter of institutional necessity, as their
imperial role calls for keeping subordinate peoples in their proper
place and assuring a “favorable climate of investment” everywhere.
They do this by using their economic power, but also ... by supporting
Diem, Mobutu, Pinochet, Suharto, Savimbi, Marcos, Fujimori, Salinas,
and scores of similar leaders. War crimes also come easily because
U.S. Leaders consider themselves to be the vehicles of a higher morality
and truth and can operate in violation of law without cost. It is
also immensely helpful that their mainstream media agree that their
country is above the law and will support and rationalize each and
every venture and the commission of war crimes.” By Edward Herman.[7]

Biological
and chemical weapons were banned on 17 June 1925 by the signatures
acquired at the Geneva Convention. The provisions of the convention
were entered into force on 8 February 1928. The U.S. Senate ratified
the provisions on 16 December 1974 and the U.S. President ratified
them on 22 January 1975.[8]
These weapons were apparently a viable concern immediately after 9/11
as John Bolton gave a rather hypocritical address at the Biological
Weapons Convention on 19 November 2001 in Geneva, Switzerland stating
our concern for “terrorists” using biological and chemical weapons.
[9]We
have trained many foreigners how to use biological and chemical weapons
at Fort McClellan, Alabama.

Interestingly
enough there was a bill introduced in the Senate 20 March 1997. The
bill summary, with fourteen co-sponsors, states: “A bill to provide
criminal and civil penalties for the unlawful acquisition, transfer,
or use of any chemical weapon or biological weapon, and to reduce
the threat of acts of terrorism or armed aggression involving the
use of any such weapon against the United States, its citizens, or
Armed Forces, or those of any allied country, and for other purposes.”[10]
This bill does not address the consequences of the United States using
or encouraging the use of these kinds of weapons against other countries.
We have certainly transported, trained and sponsored the use of chemical
and biological warfare against others including all the chemical and
biological weapons we shipped to Saddam Hussein in the 1980’s.

In
South Africa at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 1998 the
following testimony was given: “the United States encouraged South
Africa’s apartheid regime to develop a CBW program that was aimed
at the country’s black population. Dr. Wouter Basson, the South African
general who headed the project from its inception in 1981, testified
from notes he made of a meeting with US Maj. Gen. William Augerson:
“He (Augerson) feels that chemical warfare is an ideal strategic weapon
because infrastructure is preserved together with facilities and only
living people are killed. The warm climate of Africa is ideal for
this type of weapon because the diffusion of the poison is better
and the absorption is increased by perspiration and increased blood
flow in the persons who are targets.”[11]

How
vulnerable and stricken did we feel on 9/11? Regarding 9/11 Howard
Zinn said the following: “The awful scenes of death and suffering
we were witnessing on our television screens have been going on in
other parts of the world for a long time, and only now can we begin
to know what people have gone through, often as a result of our policies.”

On
21 September 2001 Bush said: “Great harm has been done to us. But
in our grief and anger, we have found our mission, and our moment.”
Bush said. “Freedom and fear are at war. Our nation, this generation,
will lift the dark threat of violence from our people.”

What
mission, what moment? Was 9/11 the anticipated opportunistic Pearl
Harbor shock and awe event that accommodated the neocon agenda and
their financial goals for oil rich countries situated in very strategic
locations?

Bush
said the following about Afghanistan and the Taliban: “It is not only
repressing its own people, it is threatening people everywhere by
sponsoring, sheltering and supplying terrorists.”

“Now”,
Bush said, “the Taliban must face a choice that could define its future.
Bin Laden and his associates must be turned over or all al Qaeda camps
-- and the Taliban themselves -- will be targeted.”

“Deliver
to United States authorities all the leaders of al Qaeda who hide
in your land," big strong cowboy Bush said. “Close immediately and
permanently every terrorist camp in Afghanistan, and hand over every
terrorist, and every person in their support structure, to appropriate
authorities.” These are most likely the same camps that we created
with taxpayer funds and CIA trainers.

On
7 October 2001, the United States initiated military action against
the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, which had provided safe-haven to
Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and his followers since 1996. The
Taliban had previously made some very specific agricultural changes
because of religious reasons – they discontinued poppy seed production,
a highly profitable commodity used to manufacture opium and then heroin.
Heroin keeps thousands of Americans distracted and addicted while
producing big money for major drug traffickers.[12]
“By year’s end, U.S. forces were working with anti-Taliban Afghan
fighters to target Al-Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan.”[13]
And before long, the Taliban was gone and poppy production was reinstated.

Sickly
Osama bin Laden was a previous CIA asset and trainee,[14]
and was probably very close to death within a few months of 9/11.[15]
Bin Laden, the perfect dying patsy is reminiscent of Lee Harvey Oswald,
the Warren Commission confirmed but implausible lone gun assassin
of John F. Kennedy who wanted to withdraw our troops from Vietnam.
Oswald was swiftly eliminated by agent Jack Ruby. Immediately after
the Kennedy assassination the war in Vietnam was escalated and lasted
for years while enriching the military industrial complex, draining
dollars and polarizing America. My, how history repeats itself – only
the tragic circumstances change. It was a different country but still
there were thousands of dead civilians. There is one obvious constant:
the benefactors remain the same.

Without
complicity in high places, Bin Laden did not have the technology or
the opportunity and what may have been specific nuclear bombs or other
demolition skills to accomplish the well orchestrated 9/11 attacks
and the subsequent tower toppling. So the vilification job of turning
him into the much publicized 9/11 terrorist was left to our media.
Among the numerous unanswered questions, four remain: (1) who benefited
financially or otherwise (2) who had the power to arrange for an unimpeded
attack (3) who controlled the dissemination of media information (4)
who controlled the crime scene and could continue an ongoing cover-up?

We
cannot bomb people into a peace-loving democracy complete with compassionate,
concerned leaders willing to work for the benefit of their country’s
citizens. Victors make all the relevant choices no matter what the
U.S. press or our government claims. The victorious establish the
policies, install American friendly regimes and sponsor American friendly
constitutions. War is not a peace producing tactic – it is about control.
The best way to liberate Iraq is to withdraw our troops. What is true
democracy? “If President Bush really believed in democracy, he’d let
Iraqis vote on whether or not American forces should remain in Iraq.
What’s more, he would do the same in the U.S., where polls show 60
percent of Americans favor a pullout of our troops.”[16]

The
inclination to believe substantial evidence of United States government
infiltration and corruption is dependent upon one’s comfort level
and courage. Recognition of reality requires action! Alternatively,
one may continue to be apathetic, gullible, complacent and listlessly
attentive to their censored nightly news and brainless situation comedies.
The blood of the blameless of Afghanistan, Iraq and every other country
that we have invaded to wage senseless warfare stains the soul of
every American. When and how are we doing to remove it?

Deanna Spingola
has been a quilt designer and is the author of two books. She has traveled
extensively, teaching and lecturing on her unique methods. She has always
been an avid reader of non-fiction works designed to educate rather than
entertain. She is active in family history research and lectures on that
topic. Currently, she is the director of the local Family History Center.
She has a great interest in politics and the direction of current government
policies, particularly as they relate to the Constitution.

Currently,
as far as we know, our troops are engaged in combat in Afghanistan and
Iraq. Our government will continue to hijack America’s economy by borrowing
high interest money in order to wage our interventionist, preemptive war
and dot foreign landscapes with military bases.